Poole-based Pulse PA is typical of companies providing full technical infrastructure for small-to-medium sized events. The company has been successfully running Martin Audio LE1200 monitors for the past eight years, and when it was time to move into the next generation, kept faith with the brand.
Pulse has added a quantity of XE300 12-inch Coaxial Differential Dispersion monitors to its inventory, powered by Martin Audio’s new iKon ik42 four-channel amplifiers.
‘LE1200s have always been very successful and popular with clients and are very rider friendly,’ says Pulse owner, Ralph Walsh. But he knew it was time to move on. ‘We were given a demo of the new XE300 – they sounded extremely good and were perfect for vocal monitoring.’
Using another market-leading brand as a benchmark, Walsh noted that, while the voicing and power output of the XE300 compared favourably, there were vast cost saving benefits to be had. He also pinpointed the built-in risers of the XE300, allowing for a steeper monitor angle when required.
Flightcased in pairs, the XE300s tick the boxes for size and weight. ‘This is a big issue as we are not in the 7.5 tonne category and I can’t accommodate big heavy monitors travelling with our Trailer Stage. Our priority is light weight and portability, and along with the iK42s, which have the same size/weight advantages, and are pre-wired for quick set-up this works well, particularly for town centre environments.’
At just 2U-high and offering four 5kW channels into 2Ω , Walsh states that the iK42s are ‘hugely efficient, offer great value for money and significant saving over comparative models. It means that eight individual monitors can be driven passively – or four active biamped – from just two amplifiers.’
‘One of the most versatile aspects is being able to switch easily between active or passive operation, and the other big advantage is the Dante network inputs,’ Walsh says. ‘We are big on Dante and it’s brilliant the iK42 has Dante as standard.’
Pulse immediately received the feedback it hoped for when the new monitor system debuted at Marlow Town Regatta recently. ‘Toploader headlined and the two members who were on wedges loved the XE’s and were full of praise,’ Walsh reports. ‘It’s great that we’ve not needed to deviate from the Martin Audio brand for our new monitor set-up. It’s a pleasure dealing with the company; there are always people there I can talk to, and if I need a demo I can be there in two hours.’
More: https://martin-audio.com
